RSS-affiliate Muslim group to keep Pakistan out of its global iftar event

Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), the Muslim-wing of the Hindu hardliner Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has decided to keep Pakistan out of its international iftar event to be held in New Delhi on June 19.

A Hindustan Timesreport quoted MRM’s national convener Mohammad Afzal as saying that Pakistan was not invited to the event considering its “negative attitude” towards India.

“The purpose of the event is to promote communal and regional harmony,” Afzal said.

The MRM is the ideological fountainhead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It was established in 2002 by the saffron organisation to reach out to Indian Muslims. For the past two years, the group has been organising iftar during Ramazan. Pakistan was not invited even last year.

Muslims conventionally break their fast with dates and a glass of water. However, the MRM this year is serving cow milk to create awareness against cow slaughter, the report said.

“We would like to see friendly relations between India and all its neighbours. Unfortunately, Pakistan has not been reciprocating India’s good gesture. They are directly behind the recent unrest in Kashmir. Inviting them to the iftar would have gone against the spirit of the event,” claimed Afzal.

Diplomats and representatives from more than 50 countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Indonesia, Malaysia and Tunisia, will attend the event to be presided over by Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh.